Wood Turning Projects for Beginners
All the following projects are fairly easy for the beginning wood turner to do. Each one will also give you an idea about turning.
Tealight holder
Start with a block of wood from the scrap pile that will turn a piece about three inches in daimeter and two inches high. Have a piece of maple and flatten the bottom in preparation for a glue block.
Heat up the glue gun and hot glue a block to the wood. Use a piece of scrap wood on a face plate because it works well. Turn the block round and face it off. This will be the top of the tea light.
Measure the insert to probably 1 ½ diameter by 3/8 deep. With the lathe running, let the left point of the divider by moving the left point until the right point will be on the inscribed line.
Turn sides using any decoration you like. Sand and finish a turner?s polish. Hutt and Mylands are good or you can make your own from each side of shellac, boiled linseed oil and denatured alcohol. Brush it on while the lathe is turned off, give a wipe, turn on the lathe and polish it until dry.
Wall clock
The clock work is simple using an AA battery. This is sold in most craft store. The shaft of the clock will depend on your wall clock?s size. Use a wood blank that is two inches thick. Turn the form to round. Then turn the recess to fit the clock. As you turn, check the depth using a depth gauge and flatten the bottom of the recess with a scraper. Use oil or wax for the finishing touch.
Kitchen Spatula
Spatula that is made of wood is safe for all cooking surfaces. With a comfortable and strong handle it is simple to use and can be utilized for everything from frying to mixing.
Start with a log and re-saw a series of ¾ inch boards about 12 inches long and at least 2 inches wide. Draw a pattern of the final spatula. Go back to the band saw and cut them out. Make sure that the blade is 90 degrees to the table for the establishment of a right angle the next time you re-saw. At the band saw cut the waste off of the sides.
